EMDR and the Treatment of Anxiety

EMDR is an effective technique for treating a wide array of conditions. Despite originally being developed for the treatment of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), EMDR has since been demonstrated to be effective in helping a number of anxiety disorders and related conditions.

Theoretical Principles of EMDR

EMDR therapy is based on the understanding that many of our symptoms of anxiety, trauma, panic, fears and phobias can often be the result of distressing life experiences that have been inadequately processed within the brain.

For example, an individual who experiences social anxiety (anxiety in social settings) may have had several instances of past memories of being being judged or being ridiculed when socialising with others. As a result, future social settings can bring up previous memories of these events resulting in emotions of nervousness and anxiety.

The aim of EMDR therapy is to help the brain to alleviate this distress by allowing individuals to process these disturbing memories and events. This allows people to reduce the impact of these memories and their associated distress on people’s everyday lives. Moreover, this process takes place in a safe and supportive environment to allow for effective processing of the distress.

How EMDR helps anxiety

1 - In the initial stages of EMDR therapy, the therapist works with the client to identify their goals of therapy. In relation to anxiety, this usually involves a discussion around which particular situations that tend to cause the individual to experience anxiety and which memories have brought them the most distress throughout their lives.

2 - In the next phase, the therapist will work with the client to be able to help to build up their internal resources and strategies for coping with anxiety. This will usually involve a whole range of resources within EMDR (such as peaceful/calm place) whilst also utilising techniques of relaxation and mindfulness in order to help create some initial safety for the client.

3 - Following this, the therapist will then work with the client around identifying specific memories, places, and/or events which have continued to cause disturbance for the client. This provides the basis for the next phases of treatment, reprocessing and desensitisation.

4 - In the following phases of treatment, the therapist will work with the client to be able to desensitise to the distress. This can involve working with a past memory or maybe working through a current or future situation that the client would like to be handle more effectively. Effectively, the therapist and the client work together to be able to create a more positive association with the memory and the trigger with the aim of creating a more positive self-beliefs associated with the unpleasant memory.

5 - In the final phases of EMDR therapy, the therapist works with the client around checking in for any recent changes and helping the client to have the tools and resources to handle future situations that previously caused some anxiety.

Why EMDR can be effective

Use of bilateral stimulation
EMDR can be effective as it allows the individual to process and resolve memories which continue to cause distress for the individual. By resolving these memories, the disturbance associated with them is significantly reduced which carries over to other aspects of the individual’s life.

Neurological changes
EMDR can assist with facilitating changes in neurobiological mechanisms within the brain associated with distressing memories and anxiety.

Comprehensive approach
EMDR address several aspects of anxiety for individuals. Through the process of EMDR therapy, clients are able to make both emotional and cognitive changes which can help the individual in many aspects of their everyday life.

The Multifaceted Benefits of EMDR for Anxiety

Furthermore, the use of EMDR can also impact a number of other areas for the individual. It can have benefit across a diverse range of symptoms and markers of anxiety.

1 - Processing traumatic memories - by processing traumatic memories, the associated distress is alleviated or significantly reduced. The reduction in distress associated with these memories then carries over to reduction in overall distress leading to significantly reduced anxiety.

2 - Desensitisation - through the process of EMDR therapy, individuals are able to desensitise to previously disturbing material in a safe and controlled manner. This exposure helps to reduce the impact of these memories and therefore, the impact of potential future triggers for the individual.

3 - Cognitive changes - EMDR also helps to change individuals’ cognitions and negative beliefs about the self. Often people are left with a number of highly unpleasant self-beliefs (beliefs about being unsafe or worthless) as a result of past events. EMDR helps client to be able to shift their thought process to help people to regain control of their lives again.

4 - Reducing physical arousal - Often people with anxiety will experience symptoms such as increased heart rate, hyperarousal, hypervigilance, nervousness and muscle tension. EMDR can help reduce these symptoms through giving people resources to help them cope whilst also helping them to process the events that have been causing distress in the first place.

5 - Improving emotional regulation - EMDR can also help people to be less impacted by the events and memories from the past. This will result in better and improved regulation of emotions and an increase in what we call the ‘window of tolerance’.

6 - Generalisation - Like many therapies, skills and techniques that individuals acquire through the process of engaging with EMDR therapy can help in other areas of life. This can also help individuals beyond there existing problems and with other areas of their life such as work and employment functioning and relationships.

Overall, EMDR therapy is an effective approach in dealing with anxiety and other distressing psychological conditions. It can help individuals to build their skills in managing emotions and in being able to process and move through difficulties that they had not been adequately able to do previously. Moreover, EMDR also makes use of multiple resourcing skills which help individuals to feel more calm and in control in a variety of other situations.

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